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Francis out as GM.....link

Ron Francis had 4 years to ply his trade as GM and the body of work would be graded as average at best. It was time to try someone else for all involved. Unless Dundon really loves Bill Peters, I cannot see Wild Bill surviving the summer once a new GM is on board and completes a full assessment.
 
Francis was a great player, but this HAD to happen. And I for one will not jump on the "Dundon is a meddling idiot" bandwagon yet. Id have been ok if he had told them all to pack their shit at his introduction press conference.
 
There is no way Peters survives this. That would be the ultimate in pro franchise disfunction, sacking the GM and then keeping the coach he hired in place who has missed the playoffs every year he has been coach. I would put the chances of that happening at zero.
 
From the Canes website:

"Since I took control of the team, I've had a good chance to be around and assess the operations," said Dundon. "There are a lot of good people working in the organization, but I feel that a change in direction is needed when it comes to hockey personnel decisions.

Ron is a smart and talented hockey man. I am glad that he will continue to be a part of the team, serving in this new role."

And thankfully no longer making those decisions - or failing to make any.

I can't see Shannon as senile or anything like it. Maybe isn't up to par any longer BUT his suggestion is scary. And kinda fits Dundon - whose style is indeed running his show without much delegation. TD better have some damn good hockey minds advising him 'cause he sure doesn't have the kind of experience to run things without cobbling up the team for a fare-thee-well!
 
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Even though it's a feel good story, it's hardly ever a good idea to hire a guy that has a jersey hanging in the rafters. That's why, as a Cubs fan, I would never ever want to see Ryno as the manager of the team. When the dude inevitably screws up, it's really hard to push him aside for someone more competent for the task. And that's all I got to say about that.
 
Just as I predicted when Francis was hired....all over the web, it's "poor Francis fried by idiot owner". "HoF legend Francis licked to the curb by impatient Cuban protege", etc. Thats why you don't hire your old franchise players to jobs they WILL eventually get fired from. I said this 4 years ago. It was a big mistake.

The last pieces of the Karmanos/Rutherford era can't go away fast enough for me. I can't pity Francis. He failed at his job. And would have to be fired eventually, sparking a firestorm of pity continent wide. Dundon will continue to catch flak for this "disgraceful behavior" until he proves he van build a winning franchise.

Aaron Ward has been going at it on Twitter all night, with the "hockey doesn't belong in Raleigh" crowd.
 
Just as I predicted when Francis was hired....all over the web, it's "poor Francis fried by idiot owner". "HoF legend Francis licked to the curb by impatient Cuban protege", etc. Thats why you don't hire your old franchise players to jobs they WILL eventually get fired from. I said this 4 years ago. It was a big mistake.

The last pieces of the Karmanos/Rutherford era can't go away fast enough for me. I can't pity Francis. He failed at his job. And would have to be fired eventually, sparking a firestorm of pity continent wide. Dundon will continue to catch flak for this "disgraceful behavior" until he proves he van build a winning franchise.

Aaron Ward has been going at it on Twitter all night, with the "hockey doesn't belong in Raleigh" crowd.

Friedman just unleashed a doozy of an article on Sportsnet with the same Poor Francis sob story.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/franciss-removal-sign-hurricanes-owner-dundons-hands-style/
 
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Not seeing much out there that's surprised or upset by it. Lots of speculation around BP and if he would stay and Brindy go. Brindy is one of the links to the old regime, he's one of the biggest parts of it our "culture". Thought that was interesting - hadn't thought much about Brindy other than his in game interviews are pretty pointless most of the time. He is in charge of the offense. Offensively our face-offs are solid but other than that we're chopped liver.
 
Regardless of the media narratives that will play out, I will take my chances on a "hands-on" owner versus the previous "hands off" GM style that Francis has patented. Not making any move of significance at the deadline sealed the deal for Francis. It will be hard for this board not to like this move with the amount of complianing we all do :)
 
OK so it can't be a coincidence that this is announced the same day that STM renewal requests go out, right?

Umm. No. My rep emailed me with a veiled but pointed “told you so”five minutes after the news broke.
 
And by the way ... I thought Ron Francis had more class than to run to a bunch of washed up media hacks who remember him as a player to slag off his owner. Shame on you, Franchise.

You guys know where I stand on this. Dundon has proven very little to me yet other than that he’s got an eagerness to shake things up. That’s fine ... it’s early days. Ron Francis has proven plenty to me as a General Manager, not all of it bad. He was a professional when it came to building up our basic resources and putting an actual development program in place. We drafted adequately and made no stupid moves in general. But NHL roster management eluded him, largely I think out of an excess of caution and an overdose of patience. He thought for some reason that he had a decade to get there, and it never seemed to occur to him that taking that long might just kill his market.
 
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I thought we were going to lose another entire season before Dundon would kick over the table, which needs to happen.

New era. New sheet of paper. New management team, including coaching, to implement the vision.

It just had to happen. Glad it's now and not next off-season.

This is a "thank you for your service" moment to Ron Francis. It was a rocky transition from PK's wild ride to payoff with JR bailing just as we jumped the ditch and headed for the cornfield. He at least got us back on the road.

No issue with a GM answering to an owner. Same as it ever was for most orgs that can't afford layers of management. Doesn't mean it might be that way forever, but doesn't sound unreasonable for now.

GM gets named. Coach runs out the string and is thanked for his service at season's end. New coach is named. Brain trust in place for draft and a very active off-season trading season.

My interest is renewed.
 
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